Phenolic composition of hydrophilic extract of manna from sicilian Fraxinus angustifolia vahl and its reducing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro

Manna, a very singular vegetable product derived from the spontaneous solidification of the sap of some Fraxinus species, has long been known for its mild laxative and emollient properties. In this work, a hydro-alcoholic extract of manna (HME) from Sicilian Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl was investigated using HPLC-DAD to find phenol components and using chemical and biological in vitro assays to determine its reducing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. We identified elenolic acid, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, catechin, fraxetin, verbascoside, gallic acid, procyanidin-B1, and luteolin 3,7 glucoside, in order of abundance. Measurements of total antioxidant activity by Folin-Ciocalteu reaction and ferric reducing ability (FRAP), as well as of scavenger activity towards ABTS•+, DPPH•, and perferryl-myoglobin radicals, showed that the phytocomplex effectively reduced oxidants with different standard potentials. When compared with vitamin E, HME also behaved as an efficient chain-breaking antioxidant against lipoperoxyl radicals from methyl linoleate. In cellular models for oxidative stress, HME counteracted membrane lipid oxidation of human erythrocytes stimulated by tert-butyl hydroperoxide and prevented the generation of reactive oxygen species, as well as the GSH decay in IL-1β–activated intestinal normal-like cells. Moreover, in this in vitro intestinal bowel disease model, HME reduced the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. These findings may suggest that manna acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory natural product in humans, beyond its well-known effects against constipation

Suicidal erythrocyte death in metabolic syndrome

Eryptosis is a coordinated, programmed cell death culminating with the disposal of cells without disruption of the cell membrane and the release of endocellular oxidative and pro-inflammatory milieu. While providing a convenient form of death for erythrocytes, dysregulated eryptosis may result in a series of detrimental and harmful pathological consequences highly related to the endothelial dysfunction (ED). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is described as a cluster of cardiometabolic factors (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) that increases the risk of cardiovascular complications such as those related to diabetes and atherosclerosis. In the light of the crucial role exerted by the eryptotic process in the ED, the focus of the present review is to report and discuss the involvement of eryptosis within MetS, where vascular complications are utterly relevant. Current knowledge on the mechanisms leading to eryptosis in MetS-related conditions (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) will be analyzed. Moreover, clinical evidence supporting or proposing a role for eryptosis in the ED, associated to MetS cardiovascular complications, will be discussed

Anti-proliferative effect of main dietary phytosterols and \u3b2-cryptoxanthin alone or combined in human colon cancer Caco-2 cells through cytosolic Ca+2 \u2013 and oxidative stress induced apoptosis

\u3b2-cryptoxanthin (\u3b2-Cx) and phytosterols (Ps) have potential against different cancer types,including colon cancer. However, their combined action has not been reported so far. Human colon cancer Caco-2 cells were treated 24 h with \u3b2-Cx and/or main dietary Ps (\u3b2-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol), alone or in combination, at concentrations compatible with physiological human serum levels. A decrease in cell viability due to apoptosis (rise in sub-G1 population and exposure of membrane phosphatidylserine) was accompanied with dephosphorylation of BAD, mitochondrial depolarization and caspase 3-dependent PARP cleavage, with intracellular Ca2+ influx and increase of RONS levels as initial triggers. Ps and \u3b2-Cx, alone or in combination showed anti-proliferative activity against human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells through the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. No additive or synergistic effects were observed.The importance of bioactivity-guided assays with mixtures of dietary bioactive compounds to determine their eventual interactions in the functional food context is demonstrated

SAHA/TRAIL combination induces detachment and anoikis of MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells

SAHA, an inhibitor of histone deacetylase activity, has been shown to sensitize tumor cells to apoptosis induced by TRAIL, a member of TNF-family. In this paper we investigated the effect of SAHA/TRAIL combination in two breast cancer cell lines, the ERa positive MCF-7 and the ERa negative MDA-MB231. Treatment of MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells with SAHA in combination with TRAIL caused detachment of cells followed by anoikis, a form of apoptosis which occurs after cell detachment, while treatment with SAHA or TRAIL alone did not produce these effects. The effects were more evident in MDA-MB231 cells, which were chosen for ascertaining the mechanism of SAHA/TRAIL action. Our results show that SAHA decreased the level of c-FLIP, thus favouring the interaction of TRAIL with the specific death receptors DR4 and DR5 and the consequent activation of caspase-8. These effects increased when the cells were treated with SAHA/TRAIL combination. Because z-IEDT-fmk, an inhibitor of caspase-8, prevented both the cleavage of the focal adhesion-kinase FAK and cell detachment, we suggest that activation of caspase- 8 can be responsible for both the decrement of FAK and the consequent cell detachment. In addition, treatment with SAHA/TRAIL combination caused dissipation of DJm, activation of caspase-3 and decrement of both phospho-EGFR and phospho-ERK1/2, a kinase which is involved in the phosphorylation of BimEL. Therefore, co-treatment also induced decrement of phospho-BimEL and a concomitant increase in the dephosphorylated form of BimEL, which plays an important role in the induction of anoikis. Our findings suggest the potential application of SAHA in combination with TRAIL in clinical trials for breast cancer

Cactus pear fruit extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects in carrageenin-induced rat pleurisy

Nutritional research has recently shifted from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention. In this study activity of cactus pear fruit extract (CPFE) from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. has been investigated in carrageenin-induced pleurisy, a rat model of acute inflammation. In our experimental design rat pleurisy was achieved by the injection of 0.2 ml of λ-carrageenin in the pleural cavity. At selected time points, rats were sacrificed; cells recruited in pleura were counted and exudates collected to analyse inflammatory parameters such as NO, PGE2, IL-1β, TNF-α. CPFE (in the range between 5 and 20 g fresh fruit equivalent/kg), orally given 30 min before the injection, time- and dose-dependently reduced the exudate volume (up to 72%) and the number of leukocytes recruited in the pleural cavity (up to 96%), at 24 h. These anti-inflammatory effects were accompanied by an inhibited release of inflammatory mediators (PGE2, NO, IL-1β, TNF-α). Our in vivo findings unveil for the first time an anti-inflammatory potential for cactus pear fruit and suggest further investigations to propose cactus pear fruit as a functional food able to improve health, possibly by preventing inflammation-based disorders. © 2015, International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved

Evaluation of the IKKβ Binding of Indicaxanthin by Induced-Fit Docking, Binding Pose Metadynamics, and Molecular Dynamics

Background: Indicaxanthin, a betaxanthin belonging to the betalain class of compounds, has been recently demonstrated to exert significant antiproliferative effects inducing apoptosis of human melanoma cells through the inhibition of NF-κB as the predominant pathway. Specifically, Indicaxanthin inhibited IκBα degradation in A375 cells. In resting cells, NF-κB is arrested in the cytoplasm by binding to its inhibitor protein IκBα. Upon stimulation, IκBα is phosphorylated by the IKK complex, and degraded by the proteasome, liberating free NF-κB into the nucleus to initiate target gene transcription. Inhibition of the IKK complex leads to the arrest of the NF-κB pathway. Methods: To acquire details at the molecular level of Indicaxanthin’s inhibitory activity against hIKKβ, molecular modeling and simulation techniques including induced-fit docking (IFD), binding pose metadynamics (BPMD), molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA (molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area continuum solvation) have been performed. Results: The computational calculations performed on the active and inactive form, and the allosteric binding site of hIKKβ, revealed that Indicaxanthin inhibits prevalently the active form of the hIKKβ. MM-GBSA computations provide further evidence of Indicaxanthin’s stability inside the active binding pocket with a binding free energy of −22.2 ± 4.3 kcal/mol with respect to the inactive binding pocket with a binding free energy of −20.7 ± 4.7 kcal/mol. BPMD and MD simulation revealed that Indicaxanthin is likely not an allosteric inhibitor of hIKKβ. Conclusion: As a whole, these in silico pieces of evidence show that Indicaxanthin can inhibit the active form of the hIKKβ adding novel mechanistic insights on its recently discovered ability to impair NF-κB signaling in melanoma A375 cells. Moreover, our results suggest the phytochemical as a new lead compound for novel, more potent IKKβ inhibitors to be employed in the treatment of cancer and inflammation-related conditions

Phytochemical indicaxanthin suppresses 7-ketocholesterol-induced THP-1 cell apoptosis by preventing cytosolic Ca++ increase and oxidative stress

7-Ketocholesterol (7-KC)-induced apoptosis of macrophages is considered a key event in the development of human atheromas. In the present study, the effect of indicaxanthin (Ind), a bioactive pigment from cactus pear fruit, on 7-KC-induced apoptosis of human monocyte/macrophage THP-1 cells was investigated. A pathophysiological condition was simulated by using amounts of 7-KC that can be reached in human atheromatous plaque. Ind was assayed within a micromolar concentration range, consistent with its plasma level after dietary supplementation with cactus pear fruit. Pro-apoptotic effects of 7-KC were assessed by cell cycle arrest, exposure of phosphatidylserine at the plasma membrane, variation of nuclear morphology, decrease of mitochondrial trans-membrane potential, activation of Bcl-2 antagonist of cell death and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 cleavage. Kinetic measurements within 24 h showed early formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species over basal levels, preceding NADPH oxidase-4 (NOX-4) over-expression and elevation of cytosolic Ca2þ, with progressive depletion of total thiols. 7-KC-dependent activation of the redox-sensitive NF-kB was observed. Co-incubation of 2·5mM of Ind completely prevented 7-KC-induced pro-apoptotic events. The effects of Ind may be ascribed to inhibition of NOX-4 basal activity and over-expression, inhibition of NF-kB activation, maintaining cell redox balance and Ca homeostasis, with prevention of mitochondrial damage and consequently apoptosis. The findings suggest that Ind, a highly bioavailable dietary phytochemical, may exert protective effects against atherogenetic toxicity of 7-KC at a concentration of nutritional interest

Anti-Eryptotic Activity of Food-Derived Phytochemicals and Natural Compounds

Human red blood cells (RBCs), senescent or damaged due to particular stress, can be removed by programmed suicidal death, a process called eryptosis. There are various molecular mechanisms underlying eryptosis. The most frequent is the increase in the cytoplasmic concentration of Ca2+ ions, later exposure of erythrocytes to oxidative stress, hyperosmotic shock, ceramide formation, stimulation of caspases, and energy depletion. Phosphatidylserine (PS) exposed by eryptotic RBCs due to interaction with endothelial CXC-Motiv-Chemokin-16/Scavenger-receptor, causes the RBCs to adhere to vascular wall with consequent damage to the microcirculation. Eryptosis can be triggered by various xenobiotics and endogenous molecules, such as high cholesterol levels. The possible diseases associated with eryptosis are various, including anemia, chronic kidney disease, liver failure, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, thrombosis, obesity, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, and lupus. This review addresses and collates the existing ex vivo and animal studies on the inhibition of eryptosis by food-derived phytochemicals and natural compounds including phenolic compounds (PC), alkaloids, and other substances that could be a therapeutic and/or co-adjuvant option in eryptotic-driven disorders, especially if they are introduced through the diet